Accenture invests in Canadian robotics startup Sanctuary AI

Accenture Ventures, the venture capital arm of technology consultancy Accenture, has invested in Sanctuary AI, a Vancouver-based developer of humanoid general-purpose robots.

Sanctuary AI’s general purpose robot, Phoenix, was one of Time Magazine’s Best Inventions of 2023. It can perform a multitude of work tasks with robotic hands that rival human hand dexterity and fine manipulation. Phoenix is powered by Carbon, an AI control system that mimics human brain subsystems such as memory, sight, sound, and touch.

Sanctuary AI was founded in 2018 and has over 140 employees, according to LinkedIn.

“Sanctuary AI’s advanced AI platform trains robots to react to their environment and perform new tasks with precision in a very short time,” said Joe Lui, Accenture’s global advanced automation and robotics lead. “We see huge potential for their robots in post and parcel, manufacturing, retail and logistics warehousing operations, where they could complement and collaborate with human workers and automate tasks that traditional robotics can’t.”

Accenture recently formed Accenture Alpha Automation, a joint venture with Japanese robotics firm Mujin. The Dublin-based consultancy in 2022 acquired Eclipse Automation, a Cambridge, ON-based provider of manufacturing automation and robotics solutions.

“Robots with human-like intelligence will completely transform the workforce of the future. By combining Accenture’s expertise in disruptive technology with Sanctuary AI’s industry-leading robotics, we can help some of the biggest companies in the world manage this change and provide the best solutions for its clients,” said Geordie Rose, chief executive officer and co-founder of Sanctuary AI.

Accenture’s autonomous robotics systems offering within its Industry X business provides services in smart robotics engineering and integration, deployment, operation, and maintenance.